Delicate faces moves up typical sharp dacite crimpers with an exciting final throw for the lip.

Slab Problem

Orangutan

Exit Strategy

Tunnel NE

Ralph Macchio

Magic Static

The Impossible Problem

Bonobo

A full value new problem on the cliff band 15 feet from Orangutan. Begin with a high left hand in a hold in the seam...and gaston the beginning of the arete with your right. Climb past a crimp and some pinches to a wide, sharp, smiley face crimp at about 15 feet. Finish up and right at a more positive edge line.

This is on the downhill side of the little cluster with the Baby Butt slab (John's Jugs/Retirement Crack zone.) Climb a seam leftward on nothin' but jugs, starting just above the blank roof (tricky feet.) Head straight up where the line intersects another boulder. A dacite anomaly. B1-

Begin at the obvious undercling fingerlock pod and follow the technical bulge/seam up and gently right. Intense crimping with some wild body positions and footwork.

NE corner/arete of the Tunnel Boulder (just north of Orangutan/John's Jugs.) Steep moves out a blocky feature, then up the left side of the arete. For full enjoyment stay left and top out at the highest point. B1

An excellent problem hidden in the woods a short 5 minute stroll from West Elden. Ralph Macchio is solitary problem on a small boulder, but it features rare sloping holds and great moves that culminate into a desperate top out.  

  Start with a rounded left hand crimp, and a smaller right hand crimp located just above on the sloping rail. Traverse the slopers left to the prow of the rock, then execute the crux, which includes topping out with bad feet and distant holds.

Magic Static climbs the purple and red hued face on the far left side of West Elden. Tall and committing. Move static with a bit of magic.

Obvious bulging face...  Start on a good jug, go to a bad right hold, and a long powerful move up right to a good slot. Top out on a ledge 12' up and downclimb the easy crack to the right.

West Elden is an easily accessed little crag with old school trad routes and big, beautiful boulders strewn about the base. Folks have been bouldering at West Elden for decades and decades. The legendary Bob Murray and Scott Baxter, as well as many of Flagstaff’s original climbing pioneers tested themselves against the crimpy dacite testpieces of their time. 

There are a handful of classics to sniff out, though not many of them are listed here. And finding them could take a little bit of walking around. A cheap way to Fly has the old school problems listed. Traditionally this area was laid out as Uptown (Northern half) and Downtown (Southern half). You may see these designations in the problem descriptions.

Description

Location

Protection

Routes in West Elden